How to harden tomato seedlings: effective ways with video

Growing tomato seedlings includes many stages, one of which is hardening. For plants pampered in the warmth of the home, a sudden relocation to the beds can be too serious a test. Most tomatoes without prior preparation will not be able to survive adaptation and will die, or noticeably lag behind in development.

Hardening will help seedlings:

• grow a powerful root system;
• get a dense epidermis;
• accumulate the right amount of sugars;
• prevent pulling.

Hardened tomato seedlings are noticeably different from their "spoiled" counterparts that have not undergone preliminary training. If you have to buy tomatoes on the market, then you must definitely choose bushes with signs of hardening:

• plants look sturdy;
• well covered with hairs;
• top color is dark with a purple tint on the stem;
• internodes short, bushes squat.

Hardening activities

Seedling hardening is a smooth preparation of plants for the climatic conditions of open ground. There are no large jumps in temperature and humidity in the apartment. Sudden changes in conditions after transplanting can kill tomatoes.

Therefore, in 2-3 weeks, tomato seedlings begin to gradually acquaint themselves with the real conditions of the outside world.

Hardening moisture deficiency

A week before hardening seedlings outdoors, begin to increase the time between watering plants. Tomatoes need to get used to short dry spells. Therefore, the soil in pots is allowed to dry out better, so that the root tries to extract moisture from the whole clod of earth. Thus, a signal will be given to the plant to increase the root mass. But it is important not to overdo it with dry periods, tomatoes should not obviously suffer and wither. Tomato seedlings hardened by moisture changes will be distinguished by a powerful fibrous root.

Temperature hardening

On a warm spring day, when the air temperature has risen to 17-20 ℃, tomatoes are taken out to a shaded and wind-protected place for 30-40 minutes.Every next day, the time is increased by 1-2 hours. With a sharp deterioration in the weather in the first days of hardening and a drop in temperature below 14-15 ℃, it is better to bring the plants into heat and just arrange good ventilation.

After a week of hardening, the seedlings are no longer afraid of cold weather, tomatoes can be in the fresh air all daylight hours. The main thing is that the temperature does not drop below 10 ℃.

At the end of the second week of preparation, tomatoes can be left outdoors for a full day, allowing them to adjust to nighttime temperature changes.

Stress conditions will slightly stop the growth of green mass, but the development of the root system will intensify. Tomatoes will begin to quickly build up a dense epidermis and “pubescent” hairs to withstand weather conditions. Internodes will remain short, robust bushes will not be unnecessarily elongated.

Hardening in direct sunlight

In the second week of preparation, the seedlings are introduced to the direct rays of the sun. At first it should be the morning or evening hours, when the rays will not be able to burn. Gradually, the time spent by plants in a sunny place is increased. Hardening tomatoes in direct sunlight helps plants after transplantation to easily adapt to the site without losing green mass

Important!

Patisfied plants, not prepared for direct sunlight, quickly become covered with burns, lose leaves and dry out.

Hardening in the greenhouse and on the balcony

If seedlings are grown in a greenhouse or greenhouse, then all windows and doors are opened for hardening, the film is lifted, comparing the temperature with the street temperature. They also act gradually, increasing the time every day by 1-2 hours.We must not forget about the preparation for direct sunlight. The scattered light of greenhouses does not allow plants to develop immunity to ultraviolet radiation. Therefore, the design of the greenhouse for growing seedlings should provide for the lifting of the upper transoms.

Some vegetable growers for hardening tomato seedlings simply leave the plants on the balcony with open windows. In this case, the seedlings should still spend the last 3-4 days on the future site. On the balcony it is impossible to achieve real changes in temperature and humidity, the preparation of tomatoes will be inferior.

Seed hardening

Studying information on how tomato seedlings are hardened, you can find recommendations for hardening seeds before sowing. Tomatoes from prepared seeds grow cold-resistant, the time for obtaining the first harvest is reduced. This hardening method is more often used in the northern regions of the central strip of our country:

• fold several layers of filter paper in a flat dish and moisten;
• spread tomato seeds on top and cover with a layer of damp paper;
• keep day at room temperature, regularly wetting dried paper;
• put dishes with seeds in the refrigerator for a day;
• the cycle is repeated again;
• hardened seeds immediately sown in the soil.

After this preparation, the seed produces very fast shoots, and further yields and disease resistance are noticeably increased.

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